Request ID: FOI-3521-2324 Date published: 23 January 2024
You asked
TfL approved the Royal Borough of Kingston’s A243 Healthy Streets Programme in 2019 which would see a bollard on Tolworth Road and a bus gate on Thornhill Road, amongst other local initiatives. These measures would have effectively reduced the rat runners who use these streets (plus Fullers Way North and Red Lion Road) as a cut through to Chessington and Kingston. In effect, it would have meant these drivers would have to stick to the main roads, such as the A3 and Ewell Road (A240) and the A243.
* why did TfL approve one plan but won’t engage on another which hopes to achieve the same outcome?
* who governs these roads - Fullers Way North, Red Lion Road, Thornhill Road and Tolworth Road and who makes decisions on traffic mitigations on these roads?
* what evidence does TfL require to demonstrate the extent of the problem in this area?
* will TfL engage with residents on this issue? And if so, who should residents contact?
* is it TfL policy to push traffic onto local residential roads rather than directing them to main roads?
* why will TfL not engage with RBK on these discussions?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3521-2324
Thank you for your request which we received on 2 January 2024, asking for information about the Royal Borough of Kingston’s A243 Healthy Streets Programme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You specifically asked:
* why did TfL approve one plan but won’t engage on another which hopes to achieve the same outcome? * who governs these roads - Fullers Way North, Red Lion Road, Thornhill Road and Tolworth Road and who makes decisions on traffic mitigations on these roads? * what evidence does TfL require to demonstrate the extent of the problem in this area? * will TfL engage with residents on this issue? And if so, who should residents contact? * is it TfL policy to push traffic onto local residential roads rather than directing them to main roads? * why will TfL not engage with RBK on these discussions?
I believe you are referring to a Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme to enhance the area bounded by the A3, the A243 and A240, that the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) were proposing in 2020/21 as part of the London Streetspace Programme (LSP).
TfL provided funding for the LTNs that were requested by the RBK and any decisions whether to implement them on either an experimental or permanent basis would have been taken by the RBK, who is the Highway Authority responsible for the roads. LTNs are generally considered to be a positive measure in terms of reducing traffic, improving safety and promoting active travel, and TfL has supported their rollout across London in recent years.
I would recommend you contact the RBK to answer your specific questions, as implementing traffic schemes on their roads doesn’t fall under TfL’s jurisdiction.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
